Michael Kay is never one to hold back, and he took it to ESPN this week after Doc Rivers left the network to become the Bucks' next head coach.
ESPN New York radio hosts said Thursday after the station previously released Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson and combined Mike Breen, Doris Burke and Rivers to become the No. 1 NBA broadcast team. He told viewers that the station was “in dire straits.” .
Now, ESPN will likely spend the rest of the season with Breen and Burke as the only top broadcast duo, and with Rivers gone, they'll try to add another analyst to the mix to create some chemistry on the fly. There will be a need.
“The rumor as to why they let Van Gundy and Jackson go was because they were afraid of getting the coaching job and they didn't want to break up Booth by taking the coaching job,” Kaye said of his own He spoke on his eponymous radio show.
“So you went out of your way and let them go and destroyed the best booth in professional sports. Sorry. The best. And then there's Doc Rivers and Doris Burke. Doc Rivers does the Bucs job. was interviewed at [during the offseason], Don't you think Doc Rivers wanted to be a coach again? He will leave midway through the season. Their booth is now Mike and Doris in the NBA Finals. Do you think that was a smart play by ESPN? I'm sorry, some bosses may be angry, but it sounds like it's going to be tough! ”
Kaye continued to point out the strangeness of the whole situation by adding in the fact that CNN Sports was the first to break the news of Rivers' hiring in Milwaukee.
“Besides, that news was reported by CNN? Doc Rivers, who you paid a lot of money to be their top analyst, didn't even tell you the story in the first place? ?” he fumed.
“The Michael Kay Show” co-host Peter Rosenberg suggested that perhaps the network was trying to control the story by not reporting the news.
Lakers beat Pacers for in-season tournament title
First game of the season. NBAE (via Getty Images)
“It looks terrible,” Kay continued. “You parted ways with Van Gundy, Jackson and Breen. You put together this group that hasn't solidified yet, and now he's gone. So what do you do?
After Rivers took over the Bucks job on Wednesday, Breen and Burke had a little fun with the news on their first broadcast.
“A dear friend of ours decided that life as an NBA anchor was too stressful. So he chose a less stressful job: NBA head coach for a team that is trying to win a championship. “I decided to do it,” Breen said jokingly.
“We thank him for his many weeks of service and wish him the best. In all seriousness, Doris, we are a little heartbroken and disappointed today, but coaching is in his blood. We're excited for our friend because that's what he loves, and this is a great opportunity for him in a city with so much history.”
